Bag notching apparatus



March 4, 1969 w. R. EDDY ET AL BAG NOTCHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1966 w wt INVENTORS W. R. EDDY L. D. PHILLIPS E. c. BEASQN 7 TORNE VS United States Patent Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Bag notching apparatus comprising means for spreading the sides of a bag at its mouth and cutting means adapted to engage complementary depressions in one of the spreading means after the sides have been spread apart.

This invention relates to a bag notching apparatus.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a bag notching apparatus comprising, in combination, means for spreading the sides of a bag at the mouth thereof, and cutting means adapted to engage a complementary depression in at least one of the spreading means after the sides have been spread so as to cut a portion of one of the sides therefrom.

In another aspect, the invention relates to the bag notching apparatus described above wherein the means for spreading the sides of the bag comprises suction means adapted to engage and spread the sides apart.

In another aspect, the invention relates to the bag notching apparatus described above wherein the cutting means comprises a reciprocating cutter having at least one blade, the edge of which cooperates with the edge of the depression to shear a portion of one side of the bag therefrom.

In still another aspect, the invention relates to the bag notching apparatus described above wherein the cutting means comprises a rotating cutter having at least one blade, the edge of which cooperates with the edge of the depression to shear a portion of one side of the bag therefrom.

In another aspect, the invention relates to the bag notching apparatus described above wherein the means for spreading the sides of a bag at its mouth comprises two plates disposed face-to-face having suction means associated therewith which are adapted to spread the sides of the bag apart. One or both of the plates can reciprocate to facilitate spreading the sides of the bag apart.

It is known to those skilled in the art that it is necessary to spread apart the sides of a bag at the mouth thereof before a notch can be made in one side. This problem presents special difficulties when the material of which the bag is made tends to cling to itself. For example, when the bag is made of thermoplastic material such as polyvinylchloride, relatively strong forces must be exerted upon the sides of the bag in order to separate them at the mouth thereof. It is an object of this invention to provide a device which readily separates the sides of a bag at its mouth and then cuts a notch or portion from one side of the bag. It is also an object of this invention to provide a device which is especially suitable for notching bags made of material which tends to cling to itself, for example, thermoplastics like polyvinylchloride.

Other aspects, objects and the several advantages of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the disclosure, appended claims and drawings.

According to the invention, a bag notching apparatus is provided comprising, in combination, means for spread- 3,430,528 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 ing the sides of a bag at the mouth thereof and cutting means adapted to engage a complementary depression in one of the spreading means after said sides have been spread whereby a portion of that side is cut therefrom. Generally, the means for spreading the sides of the bag operates by reducing the pressure between the outer side of the bag and the surface of the spreading means. Such means are generally designated suction means. However, in addition to, or instead of such suction means, positive pressure means can be used upon the inner side of the bag to force the side against the spreading means. When the sides of a bag are joined in face-to-face relationship, such means can spread the sides by forcing a fluid therebetween.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the means for spreading the sides of a bag can comprise, for example, two plates disposed in face-to-face relationship having suction means therewith which are adapted to spread the sides of the bag apart by reducing the pressure between the outer sides of the bag and the surfaces of the plates. Though FIGURE 1 shows one movable plate and one stationary plate, it is apparent that both plates can be either movable or stationary. When one or both are movable, however, the strength of the vacuum between the sides of the bag and the surfaces of the plates can be lower than that generally required when both plates are stationary. The strength of the vacuum will depend upon the number of vacuum ports in the surface of each plate, the tendency of the material of which the bag is made to cling to itself, and so on.

As mentioned above, instead of, or in addition to, suction means, one or more positive pressure means can be utilized to separate the sides of the bag by forcing fluid therebetween. One such device is shown in FIGURE 1. The fluid used will generally be air, although other gases can be used.

As mentioned above, the cutting means is adapted to engage a complementary depression in one of the spreading means after the sides of the bag have been spread apart whereby a portion of one of the sides of the bag is cut therefrom. FIGURE 1 shows a rotating cutter having one or more blades, the edges of which cooperate with the edge of the depression to shear a portion of the side therefrom.

In an alternate embodiment, the cutting means can be mounted upon reciprocating means driven by an air cylinder or an air motor. The cutting means usually comprises one or more blades, the edges of which cooperate with the edges of the depression to form a shearing action.

Materials which are suitable for bags of the type referred to in this invention are made of polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinylchloride, also laminates such as polyethylene-coated paper and polypropylene-coated paper.

A better understanding of the invention can be obtained by referring to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 represents one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 represents a rotating blade suitable for the use with the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 3 shows another blade suitable for use with the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 4 shows a double-bladed cutter for producing a spiral-shaped notch; and

FIGURE 5 shows a reciprocating cutting means suitable for use with the apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 1 shows one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention after the sides of a bag have been spread apart at the mouth thereof, but before the cutting means has sheared a portion of one side therefrom. In operation, bag 3 descends, or is inserted between, stationary plate 1 and movable plate 2. The pressure between the outside of bag wall 4 and surface 23 of plate 1 is reduced by drawing a vacuum through line 19 by means of a pump or other suitable device. Similarly, the pressure between the outside of bag wall 5 and the surface 24 of plate 2 is reduced by withdrawing the air therebetween via line 18 by means of a pump or other suitable device. Although not shown in FIGURE 1, surfaces 23 and 24 have one or more vacuum ports therein. In one embodiment the two plates are chamfered on their face-to-face surfaces.

After drawing a vacuum between surfaces 23 and 24 and bag walls 4 and 5, respectively, plate 2 reciprocates away from plate 1, and suitable jet means 6 forces a fluid such as air from line 7 between bag sides 4 and 5 to insure complete separation.

After plate 2 has fully reciprocated away from plate 1, and 'bag sides 4 and 5 are completely separated, an air cylinder or air motor within housing 17 rotates shaft 14 clockwise, thus driving crank arm 12 clockwise, which in turn drives link to the right through hinge means 13, turning crank arm 9 counterclockwise through hinge means 11, thus rotating shaft 25 and cutting means 8. The edges of cutting means 8 cooperate with the complementary depression in plate surface 23, and shear a portion from side 4 of bag 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, rotating cutting means 8 is shown clamped to shaft 25 by means of lock screws 27 and 28. A single blade 26 forms part of the cutting means, and has a cutting surface of uniform width exposed.

FIGURE 3 shows cutting means 8 clamped to shaft 25 by means of lock screws 27 and 28 as in FIGURE 2, but blade 29, which is clamped therein, has a blade surface of constantly decreasing Width exposed.

FIGURE 4 shows a double-bladed cutting means having edges adapted to produce a spiral notch cut in the side of a bag. It is apparent from FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 that the cutter employed can be single or multi-bladed, and can have any desired shape.

FIGURE 5 shows a reciprocating cutting means, which can be used instead of rotating cutting means described in reference to FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4. In operation, after the bag month has been fully opened, cutter 30 moves forward on shaft 32, which is driven by air cylinder or air motor 31, and cuts a portion from bag side 4 by forming a shearing action with the edges of complementary depression 33 in the surface of plate 1. Cutter 30 then retracts, and the bag is then removed from the apparatus of this invention and passes to further operations.

Example The invention has been used to cut a shallow notch 4 inches wide by inch deep in one side of an 8 mil thickness polyethylene bag intended for packaging 50 pounds of fertilizer.

Reasonable modification and variation are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the essence of which is a bag notching apparatus comprising in combination means for spreading the sides of a bag at the mouth thereof and cutting means adapted to engage a complementary depression in one of the spreading means after said sides have been spread, whereby a portion of one of said sides is cut therefrom.

We claim:

1. A bag notching apparatus comprising, in combination, means comprising spaced plates disposed in facetoface relationship and having differential pressure means associated therewith for spreading the sides of a bag at the mouth thereof positioned between said plates, and cutting means adapted to engage a complementary depression in one of said plates after said sides have been spread, whereby a portion of one of said sides is cut therefrom.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for spreading comprises two plates disposed faceto-face, and having suction means adapted to spread said sides apart.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of said two plates is adapted to reciprocate toward, and away from, the other plate.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 which further comprises means adapted to separate said sides by forcing fluid therebetween.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said cutting means comprises a rotating cutter having at least one blade, and wherein the edges of said blade and said depression cooperate to form a shearing action.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said cutting means is actuated by means driven by an air cylinder.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the said two plates are chamfered on their face-to-face surfaces.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said cutting means comprises a reciprocating cutter having at least one blade, and wherein the edges of said blade and said depression cooperate to form a shear.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 810,993 1/1906 Strasburg 83-187 X 1,893,832 1/1933 Wellman 9335 2,973,697 3/1961 Lerner 9335 X 3,069,303 12/1962 Scholle 93-35 X JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

